Clarkin Finding His Rhythm

Rachel Wadsworth

06/29/2014

CHARLESTON, SC - Southpaw pitcher Ian Clarkin has found continued success since his move up from the GCL to Charleston early this May. The nineteen year old really impressed in Extended Spring Training, which earned him the quick move to the Low-A and the beginning of his professional career.

"It's going well," Clarkin said. "I'm learning a lot and I'm having fun. That's the two biggest things, you know. Coming out every day, working hard, and trying to get better as the days go on. We're out here doing what we love to do every day for a living. It's just a true blessing."

Clarkin arrived in Charleston very mechanically sound, and has certainly not let anyone down.

"The last couple starts he's been pretty good," pitching coach Carlos Chantres said. "He's been getting the ball down. He's gotten swing and misses on all three pitches. He's been good; I have no complaints for him.

"We're trying to get his changeup to get some more fade, and his curveball a little harder. Mechanically we're trying to get that back foot a little bit. But other than that he's been good. With him on the mound, it's just trying to see the mid, hit the mid, see those pitches down in zone, and execute them one at a time."

Though he has been great mechanically from the get go, Clarkin felt that he had a slow start to his time in Charleston. He maintains a 3-3 record, with 57 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched.

"[I'm working on] just my mindset going into the games, and the tempo -- tempo's big -- and I just kind of lost that. I was just out there pitching and I had just gotten no rhythm," Clarkin said. "Now I have a tempo and I have a rhythm. I just feel a lot more comfortable out there, which is always good.

"[The toughest] moment was definitely against Savannah [on May 19th]. That's where it hit me that these guys are good. It's not high school anymore. I have to go out every single time and compete.

"That time I wasn't there. I was kind of zoned out. It just didn't end well for me. That was the toughest point of the season, but I made a good comeback start and it's been good ever since."

He gave up six earned runs on eight hits in just four innings that game. It was the only outing this season in which he allowed more than three earned runs.

"I've always told myself this -- it's not given -- it's earned. It always has been and always will be that way," he added.

A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Clarkin seems to be his toughest critic. Even with a few rough starts, Chantres still has faith in this young pitcher.

"He was new to the league, maybe he had some butterflies, but he's adapting to it well," Chantres said. "He's feeling more comfortable now. I would say his fastball command is much [improved] now.

"[We're working on] staying back longer on the leg, trying to get that arm into the right slot, and throwing his secondary pitches for strikes, which is a curveball, slider behind in the count. [He needs to] stay focused and to make sure his mindset is right, and challenge these hitters with his stuff, not to give them too much credit."

Manager Luis Dorante underscored Chantres' confidence in Clarkin.

"He's got three quality pitches that I think he controls very well," Dorante said. "Being so young, but being more mature than other guys his age, it works in his favor.

"We just have to explain all the details, which goes a long way. I understand he is very energetic and wants to do well every time, but things don't happen that way all of the time, it's just how to deal with the failure.

"I think he understands that he can compete and he can get people out. I think that's the best that comes out, that he goes up there to compete and get people out," he added.

With the support of his coaches and teammates, Clarkin, who has a 1.80 ERA in his last five starts, continues to work away and continues to find success.

"I'm getting better as time goes on, and I'm learning my body more and more every time. I'm learning my mechanics every day. I've made a couple of adjustments and I feel good.

"The curveball is getting back to what it used to be, which was my best pitch. I'm locating the fastball well and that always helps. Everything is working for me right now. I would say I need to be more consistent with the changeup, but curveball, fastball, everything's been good," Clarkin said.

Through all of the hard work and the occasional rough patch, Clarkin will not forget the real reason he's out there on the mound.

"I'd have to say [my highest moment was the previous] game, we were playing Kannapolis, and there was a guy on first and third, two outs, and their third hitter was up. I froze him with a curveball. Just the adrenaline pumping was great, and that's why we all love baseball, for those moments," Clarkin concluded.

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\r\n \r\n\r\n\"It's going well,\" Clarkin said. \"I'm learning a lot and I'm having fun. That's the two biggest things, you know. Coming out every day, working hard, and trying to get better as the days go on. We're out here doing what we love to do every day for a living. It's just a true blessing.\"\r\n\r\nClarkin arrived in Charleston very mechanically sound, and has certainly not let anyone down. \r\n\r\n\"The last couple starts he's been pretty good,\" pitching coach Carlos Chantres said. \"He's been getting the ball down. He's gotten swing and misses on all three pitches. He's been good; I have no complaints for him.\r\n\r\n\"We're trying to get his changeup to get some more fade, and his curveball a little harder. Mechanically we're trying to get that back foot a little bit. But other than that he's been good. With him on the mound, it's just trying to see the mid, hit the mid, see those pitches down in zone, and execute them one at a time.\"\r\n\r\nThough he has been great mechanically from the get go, Clarkin felt that he had a slow start to his time in Charleston. He maintains a 3-3 record, with 57 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched.\r\n\r\n\"[I'm working on] just my mindset going into the games, and the tempo -- tempo's big -- and I just kind of lost that. I was just out there pitching and I had just gotten no rhythm,\" Clarkin said. \"Now I have a tempo and I have a rhythm. I just feel a lot more comfortable out there, which is always good.\r\n\r\n\"[The toughest] moment was definitely against Savannah [on May 19th]. That's where it hit me that these guys are good. It's not high school anymore. I have to go out every single time and compete.\r\n\r\n\"That time I wasn't there. I was kind of zoned out. It just didn't end well for me. That was the toughest point of the season, but I made a good comeback start and it's been good ever since.\"\r\n\r\nHe gave up six earned runs on eight hits in just four innings that game. It was the only outing this season in which he allowed more than three earned runs.\r\n\r\n\"I've always told myself this -- it's not given -- it's earned. It always has been and always will be that way,\" he added.\r\n\r\nA self-proclaimed perfectionist, Clarkin seems to be his toughest critic. Even with a few rough starts, Chantres still has faith in this young pitcher.\r\n\r\n\"He was new to the league, maybe he had some butterflies, but he's adapting to it well,\" Chantres said. \"He's feeling more comfortable now. I would say his fastball command is much [improved] now.\r\n\r\n\"[We're working on] staying back longer on the leg, trying to get that arm into the right slot, and throwing his secondary pitches for strikes, which is a curveball, slider behind in the count. [He needs to] stay focused and to make sure his mindset is right, and challenge these hitters with his stuff, not to give them too much credit.\"\r\n\r\nManager Luis Dorante underscored Chantres' confidence in Clarkin.\r\n\r\n\"He's got three quality pitches that I think he controls very well,\" Dorante said. \"Being so young, but being more mature than other guys his age, it works in his favor.\r\n\r\n\"We just have to explain all the details, which goes a long way. I understand he is very energetic and wants to do well every time, but things don't happen that way all of the time, it's just how to deal with the failure.\r\n\r\n\"I think he understands that he can compete and he can get people out. I think that's the best that comes out, that he goes up there to compete and get people out,\" he added.\r\n\r\nWith the support of his coaches and teammates, Clarkin, who has a 1.80 ERA in his last five starts, continues to work away and continues to find success.\r\n\r\n\"I'm getting better as time goes on, and I'm learning my body more and more every time. I'm learning my mechanics every day. I've made a couple of adjustments and I feel good.\r\n\r\n\"The curveball is getting back to what it used to be, which was my best pitch. I'm locating the fastball well and that always helps. Everything is working for me right now. I would say I need to be more consistent with the changeup, but curveball, fastball, everything's been good,\" Clarkin said.\r\n\r\nThrough all of the hard work and the occasional rough patch, Clarkin will not forget the real reason he's out there on the mound.\r\n\r\n\"I'd have to say [my highest moment was the previous] game, we were playing Kannapolis, and there was a guy on first and third, two outs, and their third hitter was up. I froze him with a curveball. Just the adrenaline pumping was great, and that's why we all love baseball, for those moments,\" Clarkin concluded.\r\n\r\n

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